Consultation on Role of Panchayats and PESA in Decentralised Management of Water in Chhattisgarh

Over the past 2 years, PRIA has collaborated with a number of district level CSO partners in strengthening gram sabha and panchayat engagement in the management of water in Schedule V areas of Chhattisgarh. The experience of facilitating gram sabha and panchayat participation in planning and implementation of water management plans in five panchayats of Korba district, undertaking a PESA and water awareness campaign in 4 districts, and conducting a political commitment campaign on water and PESA in 13 districts across the state has given fresh impetus to the implementation of the PESA act in Chhattisgarh.

The implementation was not without challenges. With the objective to share the learnings around the implementation of the project, and exploring relevant policy and structural changes necessary for effective decentralised management of water in Schedule V areas of Chhattisgarh, a state level consultation on the "Role of Panchayats and PESA in Decentralised Management of Water in Chhattisgarh" was organized on 22 February 2014 at Raipur. The multi-stakeholder discussion witnessed the participation of nearly 80 participants including government officials, elected representatives, academia, CSOs and bi-lateral funding agencies.